Themes of safety, integrity, and guilt. American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, American Library Association Quick Pick for Young Adults, Booklist Editors’ Choice. The author is able to send important messages to teen readers through the dialog spoken by characters. Rather than the author narrating the lessons in a “preachy” way, she allows her characters to do so, which is much more effective. Examples include the police (ch 4), the teacher (ch 12), and the victim’s spouse (ch 13). ( )

This book is about two boys who decide to steal street signs for fun. A young mother was killed where a stop sign was stolen from and the boys begin to deal with a lot of guilt. The boys work up the courage to admit to what they had done. Great book.

This story follows a terrible decision made by two teens in a driver’s education class. Remy and Morgan embark on a daring mission to steal road signs, but sad consequences follow as a young mother is killed at the intersection where a stop sign was stolen. Remy and Morgan are faced with tremendous guilt and sorrow, and both finally decide to own up to their regretted actions. I think this book teaches lessons about responsibility and courage, and teens will enjoy the fast-paced action and suspense. ( )

Driver’s Ed has won notable awards that include: (a) ALA Best Books for Young Adults; (b) ALA YALSA Reluctant Reader Committee Quick Picks for Young Adults; and (c) Booklist Editor's Choice. Cooney “is a master of mixing spellbinding suspense with thought-provoking insight into teenagers' lives” (www.teenreads.com). Driver’s Ed is romance, suspense, and realistic fiction all rolled into one story. It teaches a big lesson in life—how to take responsibility for what you have done. In the case of Remy and Morgan, stealing the stop sign was a split-second thrill. However, that thrill quickly fades when they learn that someone has been killed. Their secret leads to unbearable guilt and remorse. In due time they confess only to realize they have also shamed their families. A second lesson of Driver’s Ed is taking responsibility for what you have not done. Mr. Fielding, the driver’s education teacher knew that the class was talking about stealing signs, yet he did nothing until it was too late. Mr. Fielding knew he was not a good teacher. Driver’s education is all about life and death which is exactly what Mr. Fielding did not teach his students. Driver’s Ed is a book that all young adults should read well before they reach the age of sixteen. Cooney gives librarians an interesting image (p. 4). Mrs. Bee the school librarian feels that just because the driver’s ed classroom is adjacent to the library it is not her responsibility to supervise the kids left in the classroom. Mrs. Bee simply wears her sunglasses and supervises nothing. An excellent book for the reluctant reader. Fasten your seat belt for Driver’s Ed—it’s a ride you won’t forget. ( )

Remy Marland crossed her fingers and prayed to the God of Driver's Education that she would get to drive today. Remy's fingers were splayed on the denim of her torn, pale blue jeans, inches from the second most desirable piece of laminated paper on earth. (The first, of course, was her future driver's license.)